March 26th

Ozella Jane (Stastny) Hoffman, 90, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, March 10, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. Funeral services were held March 13 at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids. Burial followed at Rogers Grove Cemetery, Ely.
Ozella was born Feb. 25, 1923, in Ely, to Joseph and Laura (Neiderhiser) Stastny. She graduated from Ely High School in 1942 and Cedar Rapids Business College in 1943. She married Paul Hoffman in 1953 at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. Ozella worked at Collins Radio Co. for 17 years and part-time at Manpower Inc.

Ronald Lee Schott, 68, formerly of Sigourney, passed away March 2, 2013, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Ron was born June 29, 1944, in Scott County to Raymond Schott and Eva Sizemore-Schott. Ron was a graduate of Mount Vernon High School and married Betty Horras-McPherson in January 1968. They separated many years later. Ron owned and operated R.L. Schott Implements for over 20 years in Sigourney.
Local survivors include his sons, Aaron (Sharon) Schott and Adam Schott and his partner, Mallory Schaffer, all of North Liberty.

Bridget J. (Gerholdt) Maher, 45, of Solon, died Friday, March 22, 2013, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Solon. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Solon. Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Brosh Chapel. 100 S. Cedar St, Solon.

Ronald Lee Schott, 68, formerly of Sigourney, passed away March 2, 2013, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Ron was born June 29, 1944, in Scott County to Raymond Schott and Eva Sizemore-Schott. Ron was a graduate of Mount Vernon High School and married Betty Horras-McPherson in January 1968. They separated many years later. Ron owned and operated R.L. Schott Implements for over 20 years in Sigourney.
Local survivors include his sons, Aaron (Sharon) Schott and Adam Schott and his partner, Mallory Schaffer, all of North Liberty.

Wilma L. Vanourney, 75, died Monday, March 18, 2013, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Funeral services were held March 22 at the Oxford United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Diane Townsley presiding. Burial was in Blaine Cemetery near Swisher.

Gertrude “Trudy” Winebrenner, 99, passed away peacefully Monday, March 18, 2013, in the comfort of her North Liberty home with her family by her side. Private family services were held. Committal services were March 22 at Burge Cemetery in New London.
Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.lensingfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Iowa City Hospice, www.iowacityhospice.org/donate.

Sabra and I married on Valentine’s Day in the year 2000. Suggesting the date was a brilliant move on my part, even if I do say so myself. Not only is it easy to remember, it also saves buying a gift. These are two practical, utilitarian benefits that are buffed up by yet a third: it’s romantic.

There was at least one constant every spring while I was growing up– a new spring coat or jacket– count on it. While we very often wore the same warm winter coat for two or three years running, the spring coats were always new, light-weight, pastel in color, and inexpensive.

NORTH LIBERTY– The cities of North Liberty and Coralville will hold a joint meeting on April 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Van Allen Elementary School, 170 Abigail Ave., North Liberty. The two city city councils will meet jointly to discuss and take possible action on future plans for Forevergreen Road. The public is welcome to attend.